Actress Cortney Palm Discusses New Crime Thriller, “Sushi Girl”

A work of art. That’s what best describes both actress Cortney Palm and her latest movie, “Sushi Girl”. Whether it’s the beautiful cinematography or the element of surprise that keeps you guessing until the very end, Sushi Girl (releasing world-wide on DVD February 19th) is a story and film worthy of the big screen.

Sushi Girl tells the story of Fish; a newly released convict who has spent the last six years in jail successfully not ratting out those involved in the diamond robbery that sent him to prison. On the night of his release, he and the four men he’s protected celebrate his freedom with a Nyotaimori, a meal consisting of a lavish array of sushi served off the naked body of a beautiful young woman (Cortney Palm). Sushi Girl must appear catatonic, and is trained to ignore everything in the room regardless of the danger. But there’s more than meets the eye in this crime thriller. Old wounds are opened among the thieves amid accusations of what became of their missing diamonds.

Palm is more than comfortable in her own skin, and for her role as Sushi Girl she has to be. Appearing nearly nude the entire time, she’s more than convincing in the role, leaving almost nothing to the imagination.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Cortney about her work on Sushi Girl. We also discuss her role as the ill-fated Maria in the horror film, “Silent Night” as well as the significance behind some of her amazing tattoos.

Cortney Palm is laying the foundation for a long and fruitful career. Her performances thus far are worthy of praise, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for this amazing actress.

gJg: What attracted you most to the role of Sushi Girl?

CP: I really liked the way the story was written and the way my character was portrayed on the page. She had something really good to offer. She was subtle and powerful and I really enjoy playing characters like that; women who are strong or have a purpose.

gJg: What was it like for you working with iconic actors like Mark Hamill and Tony Todd?

CP: Tony was amazing. He just brought 110% every day so it was much easier for me to just play off of him. We shot the film primarily in chronological order and you could just feel the emotion and the buildup. For Mark, I remember being a little nervous at our table read when he showed up. But at the same time, we’re all there for the craft. Sometimes it may be kind of unnerving being around actors who’ve done so much and are so iconic, but you have to stay true to your character and true to your art.

Cortney Palm in “Sushi Girl”

gJg: Mark’s character, Crow is definitely no Luke Skywalker.

CP: Mark is such a smart talented actor who’s done a lot of theater and film work. He really made that character come to life.

gJg: How would describe the story of Sushi Girl?

CP: It’s a crime thriller where something is going on and everyone wants to get to the bottom of it. But it’s also a story of revenge. We like to say revenge is a dish best served cold and that’s really the epitome of what the film is all about.

gJg: One of the best elements of Sushi Girl is the beautiful cinematography.

CP: Aaron Meister, the director of photography really makes that film what it is. He and Kern (Saxton, Director) had a great vision and just projected it beautifully. It’s a great film, and cinematically it’s perfect! I will never look at my body the same way again. [laughs]

Cortney as Maria in ‘Silent Night’

gJg: Let’s talk a little about your character Maria in “Silent Night”.

CP: When I mentioned that I’m drawn to powerful women..she’s not. But, she has to fight to survive and that’s what makes it fun to play. I love expressing human emotion in films and with ‘Silent Night’, there’s plenty of that! [laughs]

gJg: Tell me about the infamous wood chipper scene.

CP: That was a fun scene to film. We really had a great team of people. Steven (Miller, Director) had a great vision and Joe (White, Cinematography) was right alongside of him making it work with me running through the trees.

gJg: Are you a fan of horror?

CP: I am a fan of the genre. I like movies like “The Ring”, “Mirrors” and “Silent Hill”.

gJg: What projects are you currently working on?

CP Right now, I’m working on ‘Fringes’ where I play a rabbi’s daughter. It’s the story about a Jewish community and a Catholic community at odds with one another, but when things start to break down around them they have to rely on each other to get through. It’s a brotherhood story.

gJg: Tell me a little bit about your tattoos.

CP: I have several and all of them are real. On my inside right arm I have the quote “For peace with justice in harmony with nature”. On my wrist I have a gecko with the initials “LP” for Lake Powell. It’s significant to me because that’s one of my favorite places to go. The gecko also represents strength, agility and conservation. That’s important to remember in our world and our lifestyle. We need to conserve the land and enjoy what nature has to offer.

On my side I have the quote “Float Upon Sturdy Waters”. Even though water isn’t really sturdy (because you sink down into it) you can float upon the surface and make it sturdy. You choose your own destiny.